Man....don't know what happened, but I wrote you a big reply and it got lost in cyberland.

Bottomline, sounds like the starter is fine. If it wasn't engaging the motor would not turn and cause the ignition to fire. We know that IS happening because you have spark.

You have air (no filter, no restriciton), you have spark, must be fuel delivery. Easiest way to check is to crank it over a bunch and pull the plug to see if it is wet with fuel. If you try this and the plug is dry try putting a small amount of fuel directly into the cylinder and then trying to start it?

I am curious as to why you think theres something wrong with compression? Is it because that's what someone else said or is there some sign of that? If you really want a compression test you could get a cheapy at Harbor Freight:

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

So I was reading one of your earlier posts and now realize you do have a gear box! That kind of throws what I said out the window!

When you checked for spark did the plug continue to spark or does it by any chance stop sparking when the lurch forward stops? What I am getting at is maybe your starter is engaging for a second and then dropping out?

Have you had a chance to ride this thing yet? I'm 44 and love to get out and ride with my kids, they each have lt80's and I ride an old '86 Honda 350X. When only one kids goes riding I ride the other lt80, it's hoot to hop on those little quads!

 

The atv should keep lurching forward if it is in gear and your trying to start it. Does this have a tether switch installed on it? check all of your electrical connects and wires to ensure you have good contact.

 

I went to harbor frieght, that 9.99 kit didn't have a small enough plug hole fitting so I got the better 29.99 kit which came with assorted fittings. So I get the kit home hook it up, I cranked it a bunch of times none stop, with choke on and off, with throttle open and closed... Guess what the reading was? 0 , needle didn't even attempt to move, I tested it on my snowblower just to make sure the guage wasn't defective, my snowblower got a reading so this scares me....
Theres no cracks in my block so it should atleast have a low reading.
I mean, even if my engine is hurting realll bad there still should be at least sone conpression, right? This makes me think like you said that the starter isn't catching and turning the engine, i never checked the spark with it in gear but in nuetral I checked spark and it's pretty good it doesn't stop. I can crank the starter all day it's strong and turns really fast.

I'm not sure what's going on Here I want to take the engine casing off tomorrow and check it out, is there a link or pictures that have a diagram of what's what in there?

Also, this is probably unrelated but it's a semi automatc, 4speed I believe. I bought it on craigslist as a project the prev owner told me he used to pop start it (by rolling it with gear pedal pressed and releasing it when up to speed) but when I try that there's a terrible pinging noise that comes from somewhere in the engine, it also scares me, I don't mind if it needs a new clutch I just want to get it running. Lol

so if anyone can show or try to explain what I should see and look for when I open up the engine i'd be very greatful!
Not sure if you have AIM but if so you can message me at lowrideon3 or just reply on here.

Thanks again for the help

 

Yes it does have the safety kill switch pull cord in the back but I disconnected the wire connections to it which does away with it according to what I've read, it also has the brake safety kill switch but this has also been bypassed. If I'm getting spark and my starter is turning strong should I still consider checking the wiring? I was thinking it's not really a wireing issue but I will definetly double check all connectios! Thanks for your reply

 

Also, I'll try putting fuel directly into the cyl tomorrow, how much about a teaspoon?

I have a bad feeling something is badly wrong with this quad, previous owner told me it just needed a battery and throttle cable, I fixed those and bow im starting to think I got lied to and the quad is shot.... My luck the motor is siezed that's why it only lurched a little bit, it rolls when in gear with the gear selected (there's no manual clutch, if your in gear and you want it to roll without going bak to Nuetral you simply select gear and don't lift your foot back off it, I guess it acts as neutral, but when I do that there's that pinging sound that gets faster as I roll it faster, vise versa.

When in actualy neutral it rolls fine with no sounds

 

Sounds to me like you need to remove and test your starter. I have lt80 so i don't know where to get diagrams for that one.

 

when i remove the starter, what am i looking for? where is the starter clutch/gear located, what ways to test if its shot

is it possible to remove one of the engine covers and crank the engine to see if its even turning the full stroke?

 

$60 to diagnose. you just spent half that on your tester. Why? Im just saying if you were going to spend $30 on the tester, i think you should have just spent the other $30 & you would at least know what was wrong. Unless you just like to tinker. Man im at a loss, kinda sounds like the starter isnt engaging all the way to me also.

 

Well that 65 was just to diagnose, I spent 30 on compression tester because it will come in handy anyways so I can test all my motorized toys (I have a boat, mini chopper and plan to get a 750cc sportbike when taxes come back) so it's something I will use for all my engines, not just one time use.

How do I check if the starter isn't engadeing? Is there something I could possibly adjust? My question is, when the quads in nuetral I get perfect non stop spark, so wouldn't that mean the engine is turning in order to create spark? Or....